Straining device for lawn tennis nets



Jan. 19, 1932. E. c. CARVER 1,842,311

STRAINING DEVICE FOR LAWN TENNIS NETS Filed Dec. 11, 1928 Ema/262 6. Wi

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A TTORNE) I Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE EDMUND CLIFTON CARVER, F BURGESS HILL, ENGLAND STRAINING DEVICE FOR LAWN TENNIS NETS Application filed December 11, 1928 Serial No. 325,235, and in Great Britain December 13, 1927.

This invention relates to straining devices for nets used in the game of lawn tennis and the like, and has for its object to provide an improved and simplified construction thereof.

To this end, a straining device constructed in accordance with this invention comprises a wheel rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis in a support and adapted to engage either a chain which is connected to one end of a wire or rope passing through the top of the net or the said'wire or rope, said wheel being prevented from rotating in the direction of the pull of the wire by means of one or more roller members, wedges or cams engaging with the said wheel and the said support.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure lvis a side elevation of one form of straining device constructed in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation; and Figure 3 is a plan view. a is a sprocket wheel engaging a chain 6, said wheel a rotating on a spindle 0 which n.) is rigidly fixed in each side of the bifurcated head 63 which may be formed in one with or attached to the post 6.

The sprocket wheel a has one face countersunk asat and is formed with a plurality of teeth g.. The said teeth 9 are adapted to be engaged by means of the tooth or projection it formed on the lever The said lever j is formed with an elongated slot 70 and is mounted on the spindle 0. Z is a curved bracket secured to the bifurcated head and disposed between said bracket Z and the periphery of the wheel at are two rollers m, 771-0116 being smaller than the other. Slidably mounted in bracket Z is a member a.

In use, the chain 1), which may be attached to a wire or rope passing through the top of the net, is passed over the sprocket wheel a.

The lever j is then first raised in order that the tooth it may engage one of the teeth 9 and then moved downwardly in an are, that is, in a clockwise direction.

Any movement of the wheel a in a counter clockwise direction forces the rollers down between the bracket Z and periphery of the wheel a, causing a wedging action, and rotation is prevented. When it is desired to release the wheel a, the member a is slidden upwardly in order to force upwards the rollers n and as soon as the said rollers are disengaged from the said bracket and periphery, the wheel is free to rotate.

Manifestly, the construction shown and described is capable of many modifications and such modifications as come within the scope of my claim, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is In a device of the character described, a rotatably supported wheel, a bracket hav- 5 ing an internally curved surface fixed adjacent said wheel and partially surrounding the peripheral portion thereof, a plurality of frictional rollers freely received between the peripheral portion ofthe wheel and the internally curved surface of the bracket, said rollers being adapted with movement of the wheel in one direction to be forced between the peripheral portionof said wheel and the adjacent internally curved surface of the bracket, causing a wedging action and preventing rotation of the wheel in that. one direction, the rollersbeing of different diameters whereby to prevent them from mutual interference during their wcdging action and means slidable in said bracket and adapted to be brought into contact with the smaller of said rollers and force the same against the adjacent larger roller for disengaging said rollers from the wheel and bracket.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature.

EDMUND C. CARVER. 

